About Us

The Simon Kenton Council is one of the largest councils in the nation serving 17 counties in central and southern Ohio and Greenup County in northern Kentucky. The council is staffed by more than 40 professional and administrative Scouters with more than 6,500 adult volunteers delivering the Scouting program to more than 18,000 youth.

We are joined by nearly 400 charter partner organizations sponsoring over 600 Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing Crews and Exploring Posts in our council. Through these partnerships, the council’s goal is to be the premier leader in youth development for central and southern Ohio as well as Greenup County, Kentucky.

In addition, we maintain and operate four year-round camps that include 1,152 acres of woods, forests, ponds, trails and camping sites. Youth served include boys and girls ages 6-20 living in urban, rural and suburban areas.

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.

For over a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through over a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

Cub Scouting Program- Youth members ages 6-10 join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a neighborhood group of six to eight boys. Tiger Cubs (first-graders), Wolf Cub Scouts (second-graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third-graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth- and fifth-graders) meet weekly. Once a month all of the dens and family members gather for a pack meeting under the direction of a Cubmaster and pack committee. The committee includes parents of boys in the pack and members of the chartered organization.

Cub Scouting Activities- Many of the activities happen right in the den and pack. Some of these are completion of core Scout badges, an annual pinewood derby race, family field trips, outdoor recreation and fitness, monthly outdoor campouts and summer resident camp.

Boy Scouting Program- Boy Scouting is a year-round activity for boys age 11 – 17. Boys who are 10 may join if they have received the Arrow of Light Award or have finished the fifth grade. Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation’s role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.

Venturing Program- Venturing provides youth development opportunities for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Venturing’s purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities. Local community organizations establish a Venturing crew by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, develop leadership skills and become good citizens.

Exploring Program – Exploring is Learning for Life’s career education program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) or 15 to 21 years old. Exploring’s purpose is to provide experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities.

Adults are selected by the participating organization for involvement in the program. Color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, economic status, and citizenship are not criteria for participation.

Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and the organizations in their communities. Local community organizations initiate an Explorer post by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop.

Explorer posts can specialize in a variety of career skills. Exploring programs are based on five areas of emphasis: career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character education, and leadership experience.

In 2012, Simon Kenton Council launched its new long range five year strategic plan to meet the needs of Scouting in our local area. Please see addendum for a copy of this document. In this plan, Simon Kenton Council strives to achieve its vision of continuing to be recognized as a premier youth development organization. A trusted community partner, the council is looked to as the leader in teaching young people about leadership, citizenship, character and fitness utilizing our “classroom in the woods” delivery model. Our programs and facilities are viewed as best in class and widely recognized as relevant and important for young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Through seven strategic pillars, Simon Kenton Council will deliver on this mission through the areas of program, membership, unit service, marketing, facilities, finance, and leadership and governance.

To learn more about where the Simon Kenton Council’s money is spent and their plans for the future, feel fee to check out the newest Annual Report . We would like to thank all of those who helped us to reach our goals this past year and look forward to your future involvement in Scouting.

On Sept. 18, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Simon Kenton Council, Boy Scouts of America, approved and adopted a council-wide Statement on Diversity:

The Simon Kenton Council does not believe

in denying membership in our program to a youth or adult leader

on the basis of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or economic status.